evening, is "a more intimate celebration of the art fairs," said Shary Brown, director of the Street Art Fair. "It's fun, a little frivolous; it goes back to roots of what the art...
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Michigan

Hey, townies: This party's for you

Calling all townies! The Ann Arbor Art Fairs are at hand, but first, a little something just for us.

The Third-Ever Townie Street Party, set for Monday evening, is "a more intimate celebration of the art fairs," said Shary Brown, director of the Street Art Fair. "It's fun, a little frivolous; it goes back to roots of what the art fair was when it was a two-block event 48 years ago. ... It's a thank-you."

The Townie Street Party starts at 5 p.m. on East Washington Street adjacent to Ingalls Mall on the University of Michigan campus, with music from the Burton Tower Charles Baird Carillon, followed by a performance by the Huron High School Marching Band Drumline. This year's headliners, booked by The Ark, are the Deanna Bogart Band and Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio.

Bogart, from Washington, D.C., who drew a big crowd when she played at The Ark in April, sings and plays boogie piano and saxophone. Her repertoire reaches back to 1930s piano blues, and forward to originals that blend jazz and rock influences with the blues. Locally based guitarist Joe Summers and his Gypsy Jazz Trio recall the days when Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli heated up jazz stages in Paris and New York.

New to the Townie Street Party this year, said Brown, is a young artists art show in which students grades K through 12 in Washtenaw County were invited to submit work for judging, display and sale. Nineteen young artists were eventually chosen.
"Hopefully, we can encourage young people to make art and look at art as a career, and encourage young people to learn what it's like to buy art. We're hoping young people will come and buy art from their contemporary artists," she added.

Several food and beverage vendors, including Tio's, Stucchi's and Domino's Pizza, have signed on for the event. Tours of the carillon tower will also be offered, art fair guides will be available, and a variety of community groups that work behind the scenes to help make the art fairs a hit will have informational booths and tables set up.

And what if you're not from Ann Arbor. No matter - no one's going to check IDs.
"We'll make people a townie for a day," said Brown. "That's what Ann Arbor's all about."

Roger LeLievre can be reached at 734-994-6848 or by e-mail at rlelievre@annarbornews.com.

PREVIEW
Third Townie Street Party
Who: All are welcome. Music from Deanna Bogart Band (blues and boogie piano), Joe Summers Gypsy Jazz Trio and Huron High School Marching Band Drumline.
What: Kickoff party for Ann Arbor Art Fairs week.
Where: Under the big tents on Washington Street between Thayer and Fletcher, adjacent to Ingalls Mall on the University of Michigan campus.
When: From 5 to 9 p.m. Monday.
How much: Free. Also, park free at bagged meters (a real treat for townies).
Also: Kids Art Fair, with work by area students from grades K-12.
Details: www.artfair.org (follow the Townie Street Party link) or 734-994-5260.